petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Basically it's all about the money.
Yep. That is the way it is supposed to be.
Basically it's all about the money.
Is it really too much to ask for someone acting as an electrician, to be licensed as an electrician? I'm not sure how it works there, but here in Wisconsin its as simple as paying a yearly fee, keeping your card on you, and earning a certain number of continuing education credits a year. Requiring licensing regardless of the difficulty of the task, only drives our wages up, and provides job security. Sure, temp Tommy can hump conduit where you tell him to, but realistically, is that all he's going to do on the job site? It seems to me, it's much easier for everyone if a license is required all across the board.Personally, I don't have an issue with what some are calling "dumbing down". It really isn't dumbing down so much as making the requirements to get in the trade closer to what they really need to be to safely do the work. There is no reason why it takes a whole lot of training or experience to do certain kinds of electrical work. You really think someone needs to be a licensed apprentice to carry conduit around? or to drill holes in studs? or even to mount boxes to studs? there are plenty of simple electrical tasks that someone with little training or experience could learn to do quite well very fast. why some people think you need to have a license and a 4 year apprenticeship to do those simple tasks escapes me.
code questions are not an issue for the vast majority of electrical work if it is handled properly. the guy doing the labor does not need to know how to size a complex feeder if his job is to drill holes in studs for Romex. All he needs to know for that is a few very simple rules about where the holes should be located and how to use a drill.
There is the argument that there is no such thing as a labor shortage, it's just people not willing to pay to get the people/good people/enough people. I watched a documentary on the Alaskan pipeline the other day. The oil companies were on an incredibly tight schedule and told the project manager he could spend something like 10 million more per week (or month or something, whatever it was) to get it done on time. I havnt worked much in the last month (by choice) but make it worth my while, I'll jump on a plane tomorrow....
Not so much PC at issue. The use of "king" for governor, IMHO crossed the line into "politics", hence the deletion.I think my post got lost. I did use the term king for the governor. I also used the term sanctuary city/state which we are. I also used the term illegals and the term prisoners. The last two have been talked about in employment ideas. Guess not PC.
This whole thread has been skirting political advocacy for awhile, so we are keeping a close eye on it.
It's about advocating ,and keeping our trade a profession , vs. devolving into unskilled labor
On that note, we are here in what is the leading educational forum , because of all the trade related organizations (yes unions too) that fought tooth & nail for us the BE one
That some trade rag, who's primary target is our trades contingent, should pen an article openly advocating the deconstuction of a century's worth of that 'hard earned validity' under the bus is, imho, sacrilege
Matt Halverson may be merely the messenger, but i would encourage anyone of similar sentiment to voice his/her displeasure >>matt.halverson@gmail.com (publicy posted @ end of article)
With the mods permission, i would like tgo invite him into this thread
This is not ElectricianTalk, fortunately, and Mike would like to keep it that way. :lol:
for obvious reasons...
thank you
~RJ~
Not so much PC at issue. The use of "king" for governor, IMHO crossed the line into "politics", hence the deletion.
This whole thread has been skirting political advocacy for awhile, so we are keeping a close eye on it. You might want to try rephrasing your post to tweak it to be more of an observation of fact than advocacy.
This is not ElectricianTalk, fortunately, and Mike would like to keep it that way. :lol:
No problem and appreciate your response. My use of the k-word was due to his actions on a broad front of issues, not party affiliation.
It is difficult to discuss legislation and keep politics out as it is very political; but yes I have seen other boards devolve into total anarchy due to people not being able to hold civil conversations. Something I have no intention or interest in doing, the anarchy part, I'm ok with civil conversation.
Tougher licensing requirements would help.
I'm wondering how many of you have read 'License to Survive' in this months trade rag here (reg required)
The short version is, the article is pointing out one state's manner of addressing their 'skilled labor drain', via introducing a bill dumbing down the entire process , further pointing to 'first time failure' rates for what WAS the norm for validation , and lauding it all as the shape of our future profession.
I beg to differ.
Kentucky does not have a "limited residential license" I wonder if that would be a better solution. I wonder how many states offer them? I Think the entire west coast does.
What do you guys think?
Florida offers a residential only license. IMHO you still have to understand and apply most (80%?) of the NEC to work in a residence competently. Should electricians have "just enough" training to do the job, or should they be fully competent in at least the broad strokes of the profession before you let them loose on the public? I vote for the latter. If people are unable to pass a competency test, they should work for others who can supervise them until such time as they can pass.